Marianne Vos to return to cyclocross this month

Rabo-Liv today announced that seven-time former world cyclocross champion Marianne Vos will be making her return to the dirt on December 17th at Scheldecross in Belgium.

Vos has been absent from the cyclocross scene since December 2014 due to a series of injuries. She made her return to the road this March and rode a full season with her Rabo-Liv team, which saw her back to the top of the podium at the Pajot Hills Classic, Tour of California and the Aviva Ladies Tour.

She also was an invaluable team player for the Dutch national team in 2016, helping Anna van der Breggen win Olympic gold in Rio and Kirsten Wild take second at the UCI road world championships in Qatar in October.

In February Vos told Ella CyclingTips that she would limit her cyclocross season but that she has no intention of giving it up alltogether.

“I do enjoy it very much and would like to continue combining a cross with a road season. I think it can be a very strong combination if balanced properly as I have done in the past,” Vos told Ella CyclingTips.

“I like the duel [of cycloross.] Barring any mechanicals, it’s even more honest. It comes down to the individual and the searching of the right gear, the right line, the right tactics and you’re going full gas from start to finish.”

Vos will surely be itching to make her return. However, she’s balancing her cyclocross appearances around her pre-season training for the road. Thus far her confirmed races will be as follows:

Vos will be part of a new UCI team next road season. The continuation of the Rabo-Liv team will be called WM3 Pro Cycling where Vos will serve as the team captain and former pro cyclist Jeroen Blijlevens as Directeur Sportif. The team around Vos includes Kasia Niewiadoma, Lauren Kitchen, Valentina Scandolar, Anouska Koster, Yara Kastelijn, Jeanne Koreveaar, Moniek Tenniglo, Riejanne Markus, Anna Plichta and Rotem Gafinovitz.